Automatic musical instrument



July 14, 1925. 1,546,223

s. L. FISHER AUTOMATIC MUS I CAL INSTRUMENT Filed Oct. 25, 1920 2 Sheets-Shet 1 July 14, 1925. 1,546,223

S. L. FISHER AUTOMATIC MUS IGAL INSTRUMENT Filed Oct. 23, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 14, 1 925.

EXTENT sum it I; lEB; CHEiIEi em s assent Mn ACTION country, or DEEP RIVER}, oNNEcTIcUT.

AtITOMATIC MUSICAL II QS'IfRUMIfiNT;

A u atmi filed October 23, 926. semi mi. 418,876

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STANLEY L. FisHEn, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing in Chester, county of Middlesex, State 5 of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear", and exact description.

This invention relates to automatic musi- 0 cal instruments, and particularly to that type of the same which employ a pneumatic action in their operations. It is particularly adapted for use in a player pifano or similar type of instrument which employs air under exhaust tension to operate the hammers or keys; but it will be a arent to those sli illed in the art that the principle of the invention may be applied without material modification to a piano or wind organ which employs air under pressure; The terms exhaust tension and air under pressure are used to designate respectively pressures less than and greater than that of the atmosphere. The invention is" particularly concerned with the provision of an improved device :tor regulating and producing changes in the air pressure obtaining within the wind chest of the instrument. I One object of this invention is to provide a new and improved e gpr'es'sion device for this class ofinstruments. V

A further object of the invention isjto provide an expression device whichwill produce promptly responsive changes in playiag' intensities. r p

A still further object of the invention is to provide an" expression device which may be controlled with ease and from which the changes in ekpres'sion may be obtained by a slight pressure on the controlling lever.

A further object of the invention is to 10- cate the expression regulator without the main aircircuit, so that the air drawn from r the chest does not pass through the regulating pneumatic. r

To'th'ese and other en ds the invention consists in th'e novel featuresand combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and l im d i i In the accompanying drawings: Y

Fig. 1 i s an elevational vievv'of a part of a pneumatic action which embodies my invention;

Fig. Qis a Side view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view-0f the regulating pneumatic on line of Fig.

Fig.4 is aview similar to Fig. 3, sorte parts being broken away and showing the regulating pneumatic in another position:

Fig; 5 is a section through the regulating pneumatic on line 5'-'-"-5 of Fig. 1. V

Fig. 6 is a Section through the valve ;..t on line 66 of Fig; 1.

Fig." '7 is a plan" view of the reml rt w" pneumatic and the valve chest with the covers removedon line 7"-'-7 of Fig- 5.

d Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic sectional View on line 88 of Fig. 1.

Musical instruments ofthistvne are u ual provided with areservoir, wh ch s in co munication with an exhausting d vi o? some preferred type. The reservoir is u u'a'lly connected with a wind chest which serves" to supply the power for operating the playing p neumatics". There is usually located in this connection between the reservoir and the wind chest a' regulating valve which will control the communication between the chest and the resei-voir and in" this way will regulate the degree of exhaust that is obtained the wind chest. The embodiment of my invention which I have chosen to show and describe will preferably contain the elements named above. H In Figs. 1 and 7, I have shown a reservoir at 11, a duct 12 leading to' a valve chest 13 in which the rgula'tin valve 14 is placed. The valve: 14 may be of any approved type; the one shown, how ver, being a flap valve which is composed of the two flaps 15 and 16', the flaps having a lost motion connection at- 17 so that when the upper flap" is? raised to any great extent, the lower one will also be raised and will permit the passage of air through the port 18, through which the duct 12 communicates with" the valve chest 13. The valve 14 is substantially the same as the expression valve shown anddescribed in ny Patent No. 13045106 g rantefd Jan. 17 1922 its rear end the valve is hinged to the bottom of the valve chest, 50 that the for} ward end is free to swingupwardly and ermit the passage of air throughthe poft 1 8. There is also in the valve chest an opening 19, which communicates with it duct 20 exte ding to the wind clist 21, which supplies the player actions. I 4

' It will be ap pafent that a movement of the valve. 14 about its hinged end will control the communication between the w nd chest 21 and the reservoir 11, the air from which isexhaus'ted by suitable exhausting means 10, and, therefore, the degree of exhaust obtained in the wind chest will be suitably regulated. The wind chest 21 may be of the divided type,-and if so, a similar valve box and expression mechanism will-be placed at the other end of the same, and it will be understood that in this case the expression mechanism shown inFig. 1 would be duplicated at the' right hand end of the pneumatic action, it being located at the left hand end, as shown..

A link 22 is hinged to the flap 16 of the valve 14 and ext'endsthrough an opening in the top of the valve chest 13, the projecting end of the same being provided with'a block 23, which maybe adj ustably secured to the link by a set screw 24. The position of regulator.

movable leaf} 27 in order to limit the col lapsingmovement' of'the movable leaf 26. The expansion of this pneumatic is limited by the adjustable stop 30 which cooperates with a slotted lug:31 secured to the upper surface of the movableleaf 27. A small block 32 isalso secured to the movable leaf of the pneumatic and is provided with a rod 33 which extends laterally from the pneumatic under the block 23, which is sec'ured to the link 22, which serves to control the position ofthe valve. With this arrangement it will be apparent'that upon the-collapse of-.-t he expression regulating pneumati'c -the fregulating-valve14 will be allowed to be drawn down nearer its seat overthe port 18 and upon the expansion of the regulating pneumatic, thevalve' will be drawn away from the portby the'ro'd 33, and'the link 22, so that a less restricted communication will be permitted between the reservoir and the "wind chest, and hence or musical instrument with which my inventionis to be used." To the lower end of the lever 34 is secured a rock shaft 36, which is more or'less horizontally disposed and extends V rearwardly beneath thekey board of the instrument'and has secured to its other enda rock arm 37. To this arm 37 is secured a link 38, the other end of which is connected to a rock arm 39 secured to a shaft 40, which extends transversely across the instrument, and is provided nearone end with a second rock arm 41. The free end of this rock arm 41 is flattened and perforated to receive the threaded end of a link 42, which isprovided with a nut 43 to :limit the movement of the rock arm with respect to the link. As shown, the nut 43 may be adjustedwith respect to the link 42.

for a purposeto be hereinafter described. To-the end of the link 42, which is remote from the rock arm 41, is secured one end of the regulating spring 44, the other end of which is secured to a lever 45, which is connected with the movable leaf of the expression regulator to control the same. It will'be seen that if the lever 34 is moved to the left, as shown in Fig. 1, by the operator, the shaft 40 will be rocked in its bearings 40 (only one of which'is shown, but it will be understood that a similar bearing is located at the other side of'the pneumatic action) and the movable leafof the pneumatic will be raised about its hinged end through the rock arm 41, the spring 44 and the lever 45.- hen the lever 34 is setat any given'position, the degree of exhaust which obtainsin the wind. chest will naturally be controlled and uniformly regulated by the tension of the spring 44. It is thus seen that when the lever is in the position shown in Fig. 1,the minimum degree of exhaust possible in the wind chest will obtain. This minimum degree may, of course,

be regulated by an adjustment of the nut 43 on the stem 42. The'instrument will then the increase in intensity of the exhaust obtaining inthe wind chest, the loudest tones, of course, being produced when the lever is moved-as far to the left as possible.

It has been discovered that if the lever 45 is connected directly to the movable leaf 26 of the expression regulator, the opening of the movable leaf of this pneumatic will exert considerable force to resist the movement of the lever 34to-the left in Fig. 1 at certain times in the operation ofthe instrument. In order to overcome this difliculty,

pneumatic is provided with a smallport 46,

mean

is normally closed by a flap" valve 47 positioned at a point adjacefit the hinged end of the regulating pneumatic. To the upper surface of this flap valve is secured the lower end of the lever A screw eye is passed loosely through the flap valve 47 and is screwed into the movable leaf 26., The shank of this screw eye is passed loosely through a perforatioh in a leaf springel, which is bewed, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the two ends resting on the end 49 of the lever 45. A washer 52 may surround the shank of the screw eye between the spring and the head of the screw. The shank of the screw eye, shown, passes loosely through the flap valve 47, so that this valve is free to move about the opposite end relative to the movable leaf 26 of the expressionregulator, as shown in Fig. 4. The valve 47 is, however, normally kept in contact with this movable leaf by the pressure of the ends of the spring 5I, which reacts against the screw eye 50 and is held in position by a pin 53 which is secured to the flap valve and engages in a slot 54 in one end of this spring.

The opening 25 throughwhich the reg'ulating pneumatic is exhausted is preferably smaller than the port 46 through which atmospheric air is admitted to the pneumatic when the valve 47 is raised. means of this arrangement the air admitted to the pneumatic will not be at once drawn through the restricted fillelilfig 25* by the exhaust obtaining within the instrument, but will remain to some extent within the pneumatic and assist in effecting the opening of the same. p

i l hen the val e 47 is raised out of contact with the movable leaf of the regulating pneumatic, this pneumatic will be flushed with air through the port'46 and the temsioiiwhich exists within the same will be immediately lowered. This will result in the pressure within the regulating pneu 'matic" becoming more nearly that of the atmospheric air without the pneumatic and the force of the air tending .to close the pneumatic orto resist its opening will, er course, be reduced. For this reason, when the regulating pneumatic is about to be opened by the lfver 34 and a strong resistance to such opening is offered. the valve 47 will be raised, as shown in Fig. 4, the interior of the regulating pneumatic will be flushed with air. and it will immediately follow the valve upwardly and its opening will be accomplished with greater ease.

.lVith this arrangement the maximum pull which is ever necessary on the lever 34 will be that which is SlllfiClGIlt to overcome the force with which the spring ,51 holds the valve 46 in contact with. the movable leaf of the regulating pneumatic. Y I

As has been stated my improvements y be used with a divided pneumatic action, and in this case, the expression devices shown will be duplicated at each end of the wind chest. While in Fig. 1 only one end oi the rod 40 is shown, it is to be understood that in case of the use of divided action, the other end of this rod will be provided with a rock arm 41, which will control a spring 44, lever and valve 46, together with the expression pneumatic 25 and valve 14, all as showii and described for use at the left hand side of the instrument. It will be seen that the lever 34 will thus control the expression for both the base and the treble ends of the instrument simultaneously.

The operation of my device is as follows:

"hen' the exhausting devices 10 are placed in operation, the air will be exhausted from the reservoir 11 and through the duct 12 from the valve chest 13 past the regulating he 14, through the port 19 and duct 20 n the wind ehost 21. .he regulating pneumatic being in communication with the wind chest will be acted on by the exhares teiisicn obtaining therein and hence will tend to collapse and close the regulat- 12g valve 14. This collapse will be resisted i l extreme right hand position, as shown in Fig. 1. The valve 14 will close until a balance'is obtained whereby the tension of the spring 44 will be sufiicient to overcome the tendency of the atmosphere upon the outside of the regulating pneiu'natic 25 to close the same. This will be the position of the parts when a minimum, degree of exhaust obtains in the wind chest. and the lowest tones are being obtained from the instrument, as shown iii Fig. 6. Now if it is desired to produce louder tones, the lever 34 is moved to' the left, as shown in Fig. l, and the regulati'iig pneumatic 25 will be opened through the rock shaft 40, the rock arm 41, the rod 42, and the spring 44, thus raising the regulating valve 14 from its seat, as shown in Fig. 4, and permitting a less restricted communication between the wind chest and the reservoir. Vhen' pressure is applied to the lever if the resistance offered by the movable leaf of the regulating pneumatic 26 is s'uliiciently great to overcome the pressure of the spring 51 on the flap valve 47. this valve will be raised from its seat and the regulating pneumatic will be flushed with air to a sufiicient extent to permit its being opened more easily and thus relieve the pressure against the fingers of the operator manipulating the lever 34. As has been stated, the regulating pneumatic is in communication with the wind chest through a restricted port. so that a sufficient arno'untof air may be admitted through the port 46, to affect the degree of exhaust within the regulating pneumatic )y the spring 44, the lever 34 being in its.

l O l) .musical instrument of the exhaust type, it

will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details shown, but

is susceptible of many changes and various embodiments which will fall within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appendedclaims and that with but slight modifications familiar to those skilled in the art, the same may be readily applied to pneumatic musical instruments of the pressure type.

What I claim is: V

1. In a pneumatic musical instrument, an action chest, an exhausting device therefor and communicating therewith, a regulating valve controlling said communication, a regulating pneumatic controlling said valve, said pneumatic being connected with the action chest by a restricted port.

2. In a tension graduating device, a valve box, a tension controlling valve therein, and a regulating pneumatic mounted without said box and connected to said valve, the interior of said pneumatic being in communication with the controlled tension through a restricted port. V

3. In a tension graduating device, a valve box, a tension graduating valve therein, a controlling pneumatic mounted without said box and operatively connected to said valve, the interior of said pneumatic being in communication with said valve box through a restricted port.

4. In a pneumatic tension graduating device, a valve box having fixed walls, a ten sion graduating valve therein, a link connected to said valve and projecting from said box, and a tension controlling pneuinatic having its movable leaf operatively connected to said link without said box, and being 1n constant communlcation with the graduated tension.

5. In a pneumatictension graduating device, a valve box having fixed walls, a ten S1011 graduatmg valve therein, a link con nected to said valve and projecting from said box, and a tension regulating pneumatic having its movable leaf adj ustably connected to said link exteriorly of said box.

' 6; Ina pneumatic tension graduating device, a valve box, a tension graduating valve therein, a link connected to said valve and projecting from said box, and a tension controlling pneumatic having its movable leaf operatively connected to said link, said connection including a block secured to said link, and a part secured to said movable leaf and engaging said block.

'7. In a pneumatic tension graduating device, a valve box, a tension graduating valve therein, a link connected to said valve and controlling pneumatic having its movable leaf operatively connected to said link, said connection including a block connected to said link and a part secured to said movable leaf and projecting laterallytherefrom to a point below said block.

'8. A tension controlling pneumatic normally subjected to exhaust'tension, the movable leaf thereof having an atmosphere port, a valve co-operating with said port'and expanding means for the pneumatic connected to said valve. V r

9. A tension controlling pneumatic normally subjected to exhaust tension, the movable leaf thereof having an atmosphere port, a spring pressed valve co-operating with said port; and expanding means for the pneumatic connectedto said valve.

10. In a pneumatic tension graduating device, a tension graduating valve, a re gulat- 7 ing pneumatic having its movable leaf operatively connected with said valve, expression varying means connected to said leaf to move the leaf to change the regulation by said valve, said means being arranged to admit air to said pneumatic to facilitate the movement of the same.

'11. In a pneumatic tension graduating device, a regulating pneumatic, a tension graduating valve moved to high tension position by the opening of said pneumatic, means to exert an opening pullon said pneumatic and said means being arranged to ad mit air to said pneumatic to facilitate the opening thereof.

12. In a pneumatlc tension graduating device, a regulating pneumatic, a tension graduating valve controlled by the movable leaf thereof, expression varying means connected to said leaf to open 'the same and said means being arranged to admit air to said pneumatic to facilitate the opening thereof.

13. In a pneumatic tension graduating device, a source of exhaust, a tension graduating valve for controlling the degree of exhaust produced by the same and a regulating pneumatic controlling said valve, said pneumatic being in unvarying communication with the exhausttension controlled by said valve, and having a port through which atmosphere may be admitted at intervals.

14. In an expression device, a controlling pneumatic normally subjected to air tension, means to exert an opening pull on the movable leaf thereof, and means to admit air to said pneumatic to decrease the tension therein when said opening means is actuated.

15. An expression regulating pneumatic, a tension graduating valve controlled by the movable leaf thereof, expression varying means connected to said movable leaf to move the same to vary the position of said valve, said movable leaf having a port, and

an opening pull on said pneumatic to in crease the degree ofexhaust re thereby.

17. In a penu-matic tension graduating device, an expression regulating pneumatic,

ated

atension-graduating valve controlled by the movable leaf of said pneumatic, expression varying means connected to said movable leaf to move the same and the valve controlled thereby, said pneumatic being provided with an atmosphere port and said connection including a valve'normally closing said port.

18. In a penumatic tension graduating device, an expression regulating pneun'iatic, a tension graduating valve controlled by the movable'leaf of said pneumatic, expression varying means connected to said movable leaf to move the same and the valve controlled thereby, said pneumatic being provided with an atmosphere port and said connection including a spring pressed valve normallyclosing said port.

19. "In a pneumatic tension graduating device, an expression regulating pneumatic, a tensiongraduating valve controlled by the movable leaf of said penumatic, expression varying means connected to said movable leaf to move the same and the valve controlled thereby, said penumatic being provided with an atmosphere port and said connection including a spring pressed valve normally closing said port, but admitting air to said pneumatic when the pull on said moving means exceeds a predetermined amount.

20. In a pneumatic tension graduating device, an expression regulating pneumatic, a

tension graduating valve controlled by the mova ble'leaf of sa-id pneumatic, expresslon varying means connected to said movable leaf to move the same and the valve controlled thereby, said pneumaticbeing provided with an atmosphere port and said connection including a spring pressed valve normally closing said port, a lever secured to said valve and projecting from the same at one end and means to actuate the free end of said lever to move said leaf.

21. In a pneumatic tension graduating device, an expression regulating pneumatic, a tension graduating valve controlled by the movable leaf of said pneumatic, expression varying means connected to said movable leaf to move the same and the valve controlled thereby, said pneumatic being provided with an atmosphere port and said con nection including a spring pressed valve norovercomes the force of said valve spring.

22. A vwind chest, a tension graduating valve controlling the degree of exiaust therein, a regulating pneumatic in communication with the controlled exhaust for controlling said valve, means to exert an opening pull on the movable leaf of said pneumatic to vary the position of said valve, and means to limit the resistance of the pneu tic to said pull to a predetermined amount.

23. In a pneumatic tension graduating device, an expression regulating pneumatic, a tension duating valve controlled by the movable leaf of said pneumatic, expression varying means connected to said movable leaf to move the same and the valve controlled thereby, said pneumatic being provided with an atmosphere port and said connc tion including a spring pressed valve normally closing said port. and means to exert an opening pull on said valve, said pull being communicated to the movable leaf of said pneumatic by said valve spring.

24. An expression regulating pneumatic, a tension graduating valve controlled by the movable leaf thereof, expression varying means connected to said movable leaf ,to move the same to vary the position of said valve, said movable leaf having a port and d connections including a valve cooperat- 3: with saidzport and spring-pressed into engagement with said movable leaf.

An expression regulating pneumatic, a tension graduating valve controlled by the movable leaf thereof, expression varying means connected to said movable leaf to move the same to vary the position of said valve, said movable leaf having a port and connections including a valve cooperating with said port and spring-pressed into engagement with said movable leaf, and means to exert a pull on said valve to move said movable leaf.

26. An expression regulating pneumatic, a tension graduating valve controlled by the movable leaf thereof, expression varying means connected to said movable leaf to move the same to vary the position of said valve, said movable leaf having a port and said connections including a valvecooperating with said port and spring-pressed into engagement with said movable leaf, and means to exert a pull on said valve to move said movable leaf, said valve opening said port to admit air to said pneumatic when said pull overcomes said valve spring.

27. An expression device including means presenting an air port, a pneumatic con trolling the passage of air therethrough, ex-

tate the opening of the same to vary the con- I trol of the passage of air through said port.

28. In an'expression device, a chamber normally containing air under xhausttension, an expression pneumatic communicating therewith by a relatively restricted port andsaid pneumatic having a movable leaf containing an atmosphere port.

29. In an expression device, an expression controlling pneumatic constantly subjected to air tension, means controlled by said pneumatic to cause an increase in the air tension upon an opening movement of the movable.

leaf thereof, a manually operable expression lever connected to said movable leaf, and means actuated by said lever to admit atmospheric air to said pneumatic to effect such opening movement.

30. An expression device including means presenting an air port, a'pneumatic controlling the passage of air therethrough, and means to admit atmospheric air through the movable leaf of said pneumatic to effect the opening of the same to vary the control of L the passage of a r through said port.

31. In an expression'device, a controlling pneumatic, a regulating spring connected to said pneumatic, means to vary the tension upon said spring to vary the regulation thereby, said connection including a valve,

and said pneumatic being provided with an atmosphere port controlled by said valve.

32. In an expression device, a controlling pneumatic normally subjected to air tension, means to exert an opening pull on the movable leaf thereof, and a valved port opened by said means to admit air to said pneumatic to facilitate the opening thereof.

33. In an expression device, a controlling pneumatic, a manually operable expression lever connected to the movable leaf thereof, said connection including a regulating spring and a valve movably mounted upon the movable leaf of the pneumatic, and said leafbeing provided With an atmosphere port controlled by said valve. H

Set. Ina pneumatic tension graduating device, a controlling pneumatic normally subjected to air tension, a tension graduating valve moved to high tension position by the opening of said pneumatic, means to exert an opening pull on the pneumatic, and a means controlled thereby to admit air to the pneumatic to facilitate the opening thereof;

35. In a pneumatic tension graduating device, an expression regulating pneumatic, means connected to the movable leaf thereof by which the same may be opened to vary the regulation of said pneumatic and means by which atmospheric air is admitted to said pneumatic When said opening means is actuated.

In a pneumatic tension graduating device, an expression regulating pneumatic, means connected to the movable leaf thereof by which an opening pull may be exerted thereupon to vary the regulation by the pneumatic, and means set intov operation when said opening pull is exerted to lessen the resistance of the pneumatic to said pull.

37. In a pneumatic tension graduating device, a regulating pneumatic, a tension graduating valve controlled by the movable leaf thereof, expression varying means mechanically connected to said leaf to open the same and means responsive to the actuation of said mechanically connected means to; lessen the resistance of the movable leaf to said expression varying means. a

38. An expression device, including means presenting an air port, a pneumatic controlling the passage of air therethrough, expres- 'sion'varying means to exert an opening force upon the movable leaf of said pneumatic,-

' and means responsive to said exerted'force to admit atmospheric air to said pneumatic to facilitate the opening thereof. V r

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand on the 20th day of October, 1920;

STANLEY L. FISHER, 

